Shashi Tharoor: Learning from the Emergency – Beyond a Dark Chapter

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor calls for a more nuanced understanding of the Emergency, moving beyond simple condemnation. He believes that fully grasping the context and consequences of this period in Indian history is crucial.

Tharoor Reflects on the Emergency’s Impact

In a poignant article published in the Malayalam daily Deepika, Tharoor reflects on the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977. While acknowledging the undeniable hardship and suppression of rights during that time, the Congress Working Committee member highlights the need to analyze the events and their motivations.

The Complexity of Order and Cruelty

Tharoor points out the difficult balance between maintaining order and respecting individual freedoms, noting that efforts to enforce discipline during the Emergency sometimes crossed the line into unjustifiable cruelty.